Cytokine-independent progression of immunoglobulin production in vitro by B lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

B lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) secreted high levels of immunoglobulin spontaneously when cultured in vitro. Addition of the cytokines interleukin-2, interleukin-4 and interleukin-6 either alone or in combination failed to augment spontaneous immunoglobulin synthesis. Percoll-separated low-density SLE B lymphocytes matured into immunoglobulin-secreting cells also independent of exogenous interleukins. During maturation these cells became enlarged and less dense, and began to express CD23. This was in contrast to normal B cells, which did not secrete immunoglobulin spontaneously but synthesized IgM after interleukin stimulation. These results indicate that in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by SLE B cells is already initiated in these cells and progresses independently of further stimulatory manoeuvres.